E-commerce fulfillment operations have fundamentally different pallet requirements than traditional warehouse-to-store distribution. If you're running an e-commerce fulfillment center and using the same pallets as a grocery DC, you're almost certainly overspending.
The key difference: e-commerce shipments are typically lighter, smaller, and ship as less-than-truckload (LTL) or parcel rather than full truckloads. This means the heavy-duty, full-size pallets designed for 2,500 lb grocery loads are overkill for most e-commerce applications.
Lightweight pallets (under 30 lbs) reduce shipping costs significantly. Since LTL and parcel carriers charge by weight, every pound saved on the pallet is a pound of product you can ship without additional freight cost. For high-volume shippers, this savings is substantial.
Half pallets (48×20) and quarter pallets (24×20) are increasingly popular for e-commerce because they fit directly into the smaller shipment sizes typical of online retail. They're also easier to handle with manual equipment — important in fulfillment centers where pallet jacks are more common than forklifts.
One-way pallets — inexpensive Grade C pallets designed for a single trip — make economic sense for e-commerce. If your pallet goes to a last-mile carrier or directly to a customer, you're unlikely to get it back. A $5 one-way pallet is a better choice than a $15 Grade A pallet you'll never see again.
Nestable and stackable plastic pallets are worth considering for e-commerce. They're lightweight, hygienic, and stack efficiently when empty — maximizing storage space in your fulfillment center. Their consistent dimensions also work well with automated sortation systems.
At Riverside Pallet Co., we offer lightweight and economy pallet options specifically designed for e-commerce fulfillment. Our Grade C recycled pallets at $4-7 each provide reliable one-way shipping performance at the lowest possible cost.